Power-transmitting chain



Nov. 10,1925. 1,560,647

w. J. BELCHER POWER TRANSMITTING CHAIN Original Filed May 25. 1 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE'N TOR.

A TTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1925. 1,560,647 W. J. BELCHER POWER TRANSMI TTING CHAIN Originl Filed May 2581 2 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MSW

A TTORNEYS Nov- 10, 1925- 1,560,647

' w. J. BELCHER POWER TRANSMITTING CHAIN Original Filed May 25. 1 2 4-sneets-sn'eet 4 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT; o'rrflce.

WARREN J. BELGHER, OF HARTFORD, GONLNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHITNEY MFG. COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORAT ON OF CONNECTICUT POWER-TRANSMITTING CHAIN. 3

Continuation of application seriaino. 563,532, filed May 25, 1922. This application filed May 1 5, 1925.

Serial No. 30,640.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVARREN J BnLoHER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at- This application is a continuation of my prior applications, Serial No. 563,532, filed May 25, 1922, and Serial No' 645,224, filed June 14, 1923. I

In the accompanying drawings I have shown forms in which I have embodied my invention up to the present time. 1

Fig. 1 is an enlarged side view, to scale, of the form oflink which I prefer at the present time;

'. Fig. 2 is another form;

Figs. 3 and 4 are end and plan views of the longitudinally slotted sleeve;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of a section of the assembled chain;

Figs/7 and 8 show the washer detached;

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged side views to a scale of a modification having the form of links which I prefer atthe present time;

Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged end and plan views to a scale ofthe longitudinally slotted sleeve;

Fig. 13 is an edge view, partly in section, of the chain as it appears when bending around a sprocket on one side;

Fig. 1.4 is a corresponding view when becpding around a sprocket on the opposite s1 e;

Fig. 15 is a corresponding view of the chain on a straight run;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 a section; and

Figs. 18 and 19 are details of possible modifications.

In outline, the links shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are like the links heretofore employed in this class of chain; a being the tooth which engages the teeth of the sprocket wheel;

in use; b is an interrupted circular slot occupying about 300 of a circle;the approximately interruption facing laterally one side of the link. In Fig. lit faces the edge occupied by the tooth a and in Fig. 2 it faces the opposite. edge? cl is the tongue integral with the link, extending from its junction at 0 within the slot 5 and concentric therewith. e is a sleeve'longitudinally slotted at f and extending about from 270* to 285 of a circle, leavingthe longitudinal slot of the width. about from ,t0, This longitudinally slotted sleeve, therefore, extends through somewhat less degrees of a circle than the slot 7) in the link, and, therefore, leaves a slight pla'y between the longitudinal edges of the sleeve andthe ends of the slot 6. f r 7 The play between the longitudinal edges of the sleeve and the ends of the slot?) permits the flexing of the chain as it passes around the sprocket. This play must be greater when the chain passes around a small sprocket than it is when the chain passes aroundalarge sprocket. I have discovered that if this play is substantially greater than is necessary for the particular sprocket uponwhich the chain is. used, the

chain at high speed hasja tendency to sag and thus contact with. a greater circumference of the sprocket thanis necessary for that sprocket. If the play is suchtliat the 1 chain joints cannot flex more than, enough to just conform to the sprocket circumferences, the chain approaches the sprocketin a straight line, or slightly bows upward as it approaches the sprocket, and,.therefore,-

passes on to the sprocket with less noise than if it is permitted to sagas it approaches the sprocket.- By varying the circumferential length of the sleevegthisplay can be regulated and the slots in the links maintained uniform. By merely changing the circumferential length of the sleeves a chain approach a sprocket of any commercial size with the least noise.

The length of the sleeve 6 depends'upon the width of the chain. It forms the'pivotal connection between a plurality of side-byside links and a corresponding plurality of the adj acent si 1e-by-,s,ide links in the chain;

'may be made having a joint adapted to best terior wall of the slot 6 and the exterior wall of the sleeve c, whilst the bearing point y is between the interior wall of the slot 6 and the interior wall of the sleeve 6, these two hearing points being at approximately opposite ends of the diameter or" the circle in the direction of pull.

The form of the sleeve 0 shown being less than a complete circle but substantially more than a semi-circle, adapts its sides in the line of pull 'to spring relatively to each other under the pulling strain of the series of links pivoted upon it in opposite directions, The combined tongues (Z, d, etc. act as a core to limit the inward yield of the sides of the sleeve under this strain.

When the sleeve and slot occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, with the longitudinal slot of the sleeve facing the sprocket tooth,

the sleeve, when on the lower run of the chain, has its slot uppermost; therefore,it is in a position to receive and hold oil. 'llJhen passing around the sprocket, it is still in a position to hold the oil under centrifugal force, since the slot faces the center of the sprocket. In Figs. 71 and 8 is shown, detached, a steel washer, which after the links and the sleeve are assembled, is placed in and around the sleeve at each end, where it protrudes beyond the outside link. The anhular portion .g of thiswasher surrounds and closely {its the egaterior of the sleeve and the tongue portion 71, closely fits the --in t-erior of the sleeve. This washer not merely strengthens the sleeve at both ends against collapse or deformation, but also; performs a usefulfunct-ion in relation to the oil.

The links .1 and 2 are duplicates of each other excepting that the interrupted circular slots 8, 3 are the reverse of the interruted'circular slots 4, 4. This is to enable the links to be combined in inverse position on the slotted sleeve 5, as shown in Figs. 13, 14- 15 and '16. 6, 6 are teeth to engage with the sprocket when the chain is bent, as shown in Fig. 13; 7, '1'. are teeth to engage with the sprocket when the chain is bent, as shown in Fig. 14:. "The teeth on each link diverge from each other at approximately theangle shown in the drawings.

The slotted sleeve 5 forms the pivotal connection between a plurality of side-byside links '1, land a corresponding plurality of adjacent side-'byside links 2,2. It er;- tends "through theinterrupted slots?) and d of as "many of the si-de-by side links as may be desired and as exemplified in Figs. 1 and 17 where the links 1 and 2 are in series of eight each. The ends of the sleeve are upset at 8 and 9. Being or steel, the sides of the sleeve in the line of pull on the chain may spring to and fro under variations of strain.

The interrupted slots 3 and t each occupies about 300 of a circle; the approximately 60 interruption facing one side of the chain in link 1 and facing the opposite side the chain in link 2. Or, in other words, the interruption of the slot faces toward the toothed. edge of link 1 and faces away from the toothed edge of link2.

10 and 11 are tongues integral with the link and formed by the cutting oi the slots 3 and l therein, being connected with the links by the integral necks 12 and 13 by which the slots are interrupted. hen links 1 and 2 are combined, as shown in Figs. 18 and 17, upon the sleeve 5, the series of tongues 10 and 11 serve suasc-antially as a rigid core stopping any tendency of the sleeve to collapse under the pull on the chain. The necks 12 and 13 also serve as a means for holding this core inposition.

The necks 12 and 13 also serve to maintain the position 015 the slotted sleeve such that the sides of the sleeve. adjacent the ends of r.

the slot are retained always in the line of pull, thereby insuring that the sleeve may spring under the pulling strain to the ex- 90 in width There is thus permitted an oscillatory play of approximately 80 be" tween the sleeve and the slot which occurs when the bend of the chain is reversed from that shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 1 1.

The thickness of the sleeve relatively to the width of the slot is such as to leave approximately .005 clearance between the inner wall of the sleeve and the inner side of the slot; also, approximately .0095 inch clearance between the outer wall of the sleeve and the outer side of the slot. The drawings do not undertake to show these clearances.

The above relative dimensions of the sleeve and link slot and the resilience ot the sleeve are understood to be important contributions to the noiselessness of the chain in operation.

Although I have shown and described tov a scale the chain as it is being constructed at the present time, nevertheless, I do not limit myself to this precise constructlon.

Among the variations of which I know it to "be susceptible IS the omission of" the tongues lit) desired a core may be provided by a pin 14 extending throughout the sleeve as shown in Fig. 19. 7

I have shown the forms in which I have embodied myinvention up to the present time, but do not wish to be understood as being limited thereto; for instance, I do not limit myself to the presence of the tongues cZfor forming an internal support for the sleeve'e or maintaining it in the position shown, since I am well aware that such internal support may be dispensed with or otherwise provided for and that other means of limiting rotation of the sleeve may be provided without departing from my invention in its broad aspect.

I claim:

.1. A chain link containing an interrupted circular slot and a sprocket-engaging tooth, the interruption facing toward said tooth.

2. A chain link containing a sprocket-engaging tooth and an opening of greater extent than a semi-circle into which projects laterally a tongue integral with the link and conforming concentrically with the shape of the opening.

3. In a chain, in combination, a link containing an interrupted circular slot, and a longitudinally slotted sleeve arranged within said link slot substantially as described, whereby the pull of the chain causes the external and internal walls of saidslot tobear upon the sleeve at points substantially in the line of pull.

4. In a chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted hollow sleeve and a series of links having sprocket-engaging teeth and containing interrupted circular slots through which said sleeve extends.

5. A chain link having sprocket-engaging teeth and containing an interrupted circular slot in combination with a longitudinally slotted sleeve extending therethrough, both said link slot and said sleeve extending beyond a semi-circle. V

6. In a chain, in combination, a longitu dinally slotted sleeve, and a series of links each containing a sprocket tooth and a circular slot through which said sleeve extends, the slot of said sleeve facing the teeth on the links. I

7. A chain link containing an interrupted circular slot of greater extent than asemicircle, in combination with a longitudinally slotted sleeve filling the greater portion of said link slot, the interruption facing one lateral edge of said link.

8. A chain link containing an interrupted circular slot extending upwards of 250, in combination with a longitudinally slotted sleeve extending within of the extent of said link slot, the interruption facing one lateral edge of said link. 7

9. In combination, a longitudinally slotted hollow sleeve, a link containing an interrupted circular slot facing one-lateral edge I of said link, anda washer also contammg an interrupted circular slot locatedupon an end of thesleeve projecting beyond said link. 10. In a chain, n combination, a long1tu-' 11. In a chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted sleeve and a series of links each containing a circular slot through which said sleeve extends, the ends of the sleeve being closed to form a lubrication receptacle in said sleeve.

12. In a chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted hollow pivot of more than semi-circular extent, two series of links. pivoted thereon, and means whereby the slot is maintained facing transversely to the line of pull.

14. In a silent chain, a plurality of overlapping links with registering openings, a round hollow p111 1n said openings, said pin having a narrow sl1t opening to render the of the sides of the pivoted is pin flexible throughout most of its length,

the end portions of the pin being rigid.

15. A pin for silent chains being hollow and contractible circumferentially to render it flexible throughout most of its length and non-contractible circumferentially at its ends to render them rigid.

16. In a chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted, hollow, resilient pivot of more than semi-circular extent,'two series of links pivoted thereon and means whereby the slot is maintained transversely to the line of pull, there being a clearance between the links and pivot.

17. In a chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted, hollow, resilient pivot of more than semi-circular extent, two series of links pivoted thereon, means whereby the slot is maintained facing transversely to the line of pull and a core within the pivot whereby the inward yield of the sides of the pivot is limited, there being a clearance between the pivot and the core.

18. In a chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted, hollow, resilient pivot of more than semi-circular extent, two series of links pivoted thereon, means whereby the slot is maintained facing transversely to the line of pull and a 7 core Within the pivot whereby the inward yield of the sides of the pi o is limi ed, t ere eing a c a n b tween the pivot and the core and a clearance between the pivot and links.

l9, In a c ain, i embi-n ti l e ng dinally slotted, hollowpivot and a series of links containing interrupted circular slots through which said pivot extends, there he- 7 ing clearance next th piv t bot n de n outside and at the ends, of the circular slots.

20, In a, chain, in combination, a longitudinally slotted, hollow pivot of more than semi-circular extent tWo series of links pivoted thereon, a pair of teeth on each link diverging from each other and means Whereby the slot is maintained fzleingtrensversely to. the line of null.

WARREN J. BELCHEB. 

